Spain is one of the more favourably situated countries within Europe with regard to hours of sun per year and levels of solar radiation. In southern Germany there are about 1000 kWh/m2 of sun per year while in the south of Spain there are more than 1700 kWh/m2. With the price per KWh (guaranteed for 25 years by Royal decree 436/2004) this makes Spain a world leader when it comes to potential revenues generated by grid-connected PV system installations, these revenues being further underpinned by European Union backing.

This cost comparison between putting up a PV system on your house in the UK and buying the same PV system as part of a bigger farm in Spain is reason enough to follow the sun. Through Granite Consultants Limited the same PV system produces more electricity, costs less to install, less to maintain, less to insure and pays out more per kWh.

BCIS Executive Director, Joe Martin, says: “Installing solar panels costs between £4,000 - £5,000 yet could save as little as £24 per year, meaning it would take around 208 years to pay back the cost of installation.” Source: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Article on Greener Homes

We can promise returns of between 7 and 9% per annum (net), the returns being index linked to the rate of inflation and as such will increment every year. It is not difficult to see that there is a vast difference, with respect to potential returns, between panels installed at home and as part of a larger project operating in a much sunnier country where generous subsidies are in place.